Study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial central venous catheters versus ordinary central venous catheters at reducing catheter related infections in critically ill Chinese patients.

INTRODUCTION: Catheter use is associated with many complications and is an iatrogenic source of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICU). The catheter being studied (Certofix Protect) was developed to reduce the risk of catheter related infections. This clinical trial will compare the safety and efficiency of Certofix Protect with that of an ordinary Certofix catheter.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In this multicentre trial, we will randomly assigned dual lumen central venous catheterisation (≥5 ds) in patients in the adult ICU to the antimicrobial central venous catheter (CVC) group or the ordinary CVC group. We plan to recruit 12-16 medical centres in China. Our main objective is to assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial CVCs in reducing catheter related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), all cause mortality, catheter colonisation, catheter related thrombosis and other catheter related complications. The primary outcome is the incidence of CRBSI.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The ethics committee of West China Hospital of Sichuan University has granted ethics approval for this study (27 January 2015). The results will be published in peer reviewed journals and presented at conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02645682.